‘Faulty’

Published: Friday, June 14, 2013 at 8:33 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 14, 2013 at 8:33 a.m.

Arnold “Skip” Sheldon of Hendersonville says Doug Freeman’s logic expressed in last Friday’s Mountains to Molehills column on the subject of gun control is “faulty” on both issues he addressed. “First, in response to his question of why does someone need an assault weapon — actually a semi-automatic rifle, 99.99 percent of which don’t assault anyone — I would respond, and am sure he would agree, that automobiles kill vastly more people each year than assault weapons and that high speed is a contributing factor,” says Mr. Sheldon. “That being so, why does anyone need a sports car that will go 100 mph? Would he support a government ban on Corvettes and other fast sports cars? Or does he believe, like most people, that if a person wants to own a fast sports car he doesn’t have to justify to anybody why he needs it, and that banning them would be a gross miscarriage of governmental power? In regard to his second argument, that the weapons available to individual citizens would be no match against the military, I would refer him to the 2-yearlong civil war in Syria, where lightly armed rebels have been rather successfully fighting. I believe Mr. Freeman has caught himself in the trap of reaching a conclusion and then attempting to find the logic that supports it. He might be more successful if he reversed that process and let logic lead him to conclusions.”

◆

‘CONGRATULATIONS!’: He has done it again! John Albree of Columbus, on May 31, scored another hole-in-one. “Only this time he changed holes from his usual No. 9 at Tryon Country Club to the difficult 166-yard, fifth hole,” reports Marc Brady, the PGA professional there. “This is his fourth hole-in-one since September of 2011, with three of those coming on hole No. 9. Congratulations!”

◆

WOMEN ON TARGET: Candy Raines of Hendersonville wants more people to know about Women On Target. “It’s a place where women can learn how to use a firearm correctly and with an emphasis on safety,” she says. “They are taught by trained instructors and meet at Bear Arms, an indoor shooting range in Brevard. I recommend it for anyone who has never touched a firearm or needs practice. It’s only for women, and I also recommend going to the NRA website to learn about all kinds of training that’s available.”

◆

YIKES!: A young farm boy accidentally overturned his wagon loaded with corn that he was taking to the market in town. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise. “Hey, Johnny,” the farmer yelled. “Forget your troubles. Come in and eat lunch with us. Then I’ll help you get the wagon back up.” “That’s mighty nice of you,” Johnny answered, “but I don’t think Pa would like me to.” “Nonsense, come on in,” the farmer insisted. “Well, OK,” Johnny finally agreed, “but Pa won’t like it.” After a delicious meal, Johnny thanked his neighbor. “I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset.” “Don’t be foolish,” the neighbor said with a smile. “By the way, where is your Pa?” Johnny deadpanned, “Under the wagon.”

◆

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The Music by the Lake concert series at Blue Ridge Community College will start Sunday with Jacob Johnson. Admission is free to the 5-7 p.m. concert, and folks are invited to bring a picnic and lawn chairs to enjoy an evening of music with friends and family beside the college lake. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place in Thomas Auditorium in the Sink Building. Jacob Johnson is a young, energetic performer and South Carolina native who has shared stages with songwriting masters from Edwin McCain to David Wilcox, and hangs out with guitar heroes like Tommy Emmanuel and Tim Reynolds, who is right-hand man to Dave Matthews. Music by the Lake will continue Aug. 25 with The Honeycutters.

<p>Arnold “Skip” Sheldon of Hendersonville says Doug Freeman's logic expressed in last Friday's Mountains to Molehills column on the subject of gun control is “faulty” on both issues he addressed. “First, in response to his question of why does someone need an assault weapon — actually a semi-automatic rifle, 99.99 percent of which don't assault anyone — I would respond, and am sure he would agree, that automobiles kill vastly more people each year than assault weapons and that high speed is a contributing factor,” says Mr. Sheldon. “That being so, why does anyone need a sports car that will go 100 mph? Would he support a government ban on Corvettes and other fast sports cars? Or does he believe, like most people, that if a person wants to own a fast sports car he doesn't have to justify to anybody why he needs it, and that banning them would be a gross miscarriage of governmental power? In regard to his second argument, that the weapons available to individual citizens would be no match against the military, I would refer him to the 2-yearlong civil war in Syria, where lightly armed rebels have been rather successfully fighting. I believe Mr. Freeman has caught himself in the trap of reaching a conclusion and then attempting to find the logic that supports it. He might be more successful if he reversed that process and let logic lead him to conclusions.”</p><p>◆</p><p>'CONGRATULATIONS!': He has done it again! John Albree of Columbus, on May 31, scored another hole-in-one. “Only this time he changed holes from his usual No. 9 at Tryon Country Club to the difficult 166-yard, fifth hole,” reports Marc Brady, the PGA professional there. “This is his fourth hole-in-one since September of 2011, with three of those coming on hole No. 9. Congratulations!”</p><p>◆</p><p>WOMEN ON TARGET: Candy Raines of Hendersonville wants more people to know about Women On Target. “It's a place where women can learn how to use a firearm correctly and with an emphasis on safety,” she says. “They are taught by trained instructors and meet at Bear Arms, an indoor shooting range in Brevard. I recommend it for anyone who has never touched a firearm or needs practice. It's only for women, and I also recommend going to the NRA website to learn about all kinds of training that's available.”</p><p>◆</p><p>YIKES!: A young farm boy accidentally overturned his wagon loaded with corn that he was taking to the market in town. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise. “Hey, Johnny,” the farmer yelled. “Forget your troubles. Come in and eat lunch with us. Then I'll help you get the wagon back up.” “That's mighty nice of you,” Johnny answered, “but I don't think Pa would like me to.” “Nonsense, come on in,” the farmer insisted. “Well, OK,” Johnny finally agreed, “but Pa won't like it.” After a delicious meal, Johnny thanked his neighbor. “I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset.” “Don't be foolish,” the neighbor said with a smile. “By the way, where is your Pa?” Johnny deadpanned, “Under the wagon.”</p><p>◆</p><p>LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The Music by the Lake concert series at Blue Ridge Community College will start Sunday with Jacob Johnson. Admission is free to the 5-7 p.m. concert, and folks are invited to bring a picnic and lawn chairs to enjoy an evening of music with friends and family beside the college lake. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place in Thomas Auditorium in the Sink Building. Jacob Johnson is a young, energetic performer and South Carolina native who has shared stages with songwriting masters from Edwin McCain to David Wilcox, and hangs out with guitar heroes like Tommy Emmanuel and Tim Reynolds, who is right-hand man to Dave Matthews. Music by the Lake will continue Aug. 25 with The Honeycutters.</p><p>Reach Lou Parris at 828-694-7836 or molehills@blueridgenow.com.</p>